A Fox News poll reveals American voters have reached a breaking point on taxation and government spending, with 70% saying their taxes are too high—the highest level ever recorded and an 11-point jump from last year, marking the largest year-over-year increase since tracking began in 2004.
Widespread Concern Over Government Waste
Three-quarters of voters now believe government spending is wasteful and inefficient, up 18 points from 57% last year. The concern crosses party lines, with 75% of Democrats, Republicans, and independents agreeing that significant government spending lacks efficiency. Among those troubled by waste, 22% say almost all government spending is wasteful, while 53% cite a great deal of waste. This bipartisan consensus highlights a fundamental shift in how Americans view their government’s stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Lots of pre-April 15 polls on taxes this week, but @FoxNews also had Q on govt. spending.
Dem/Ind views no doubt reflect anti-Trump sentiment but these are %s saying almost all/great deal of spending is wasteful:
Republicans 76%
Democrats 75%
Independents 73%…— Carroll Doherty (@CarrollDoherty) April 10, 2026
Sharp Partisan Divide on Solutions
While Americans agree on the problem, they split sharply on the Trump administration’s efforts to address it. Nearly two-thirds of voters rate the administration’s performance in identifying and cutting wasteful spending as only fair or poor, up from 56% in March 2025. Republicans remain supportive, with 69% giving positive ratings, but 90% of Democrats and 80% of independents say the administration is not doing a good job on this issue.
Growing Frustration Spans Demographics
The tax burden concerns hit voters with graduate degrees particularly hard, showing a 24-point increase in those saying taxes are too high. Very liberal voters saw a 20-point jump, while Democratic men increased 19 points. Rural voters, White voters without college degrees, and women over 45 all registered double-digit increases in tax concerns. When asked what bothers them most about federal income taxes, 38% cite the wealthy not paying enough, though this dropped from last year’s 45%. Another 29% focus on how government spends tax dollars.
Record Disapproval on Tax Policy
President Trump’s handling of taxes faces record disapproval at 64%, up 11 points from last year. The dissatisfaction increased across all groups, including a 9-point rise among Republicans, 14 points among independents, and 9 points among Democrats. As the April tax deadline approaches, these numbers reflect deepening frustration with both the tax burden and government spending practices that span the political spectrum.